Student Survival Guide

Make your University experience a whole lot easier!

University! We’ve heard it all before university is “the best years of your life” and “students have it so easy,” however we’d definitely argue that being a poor, overworked, more than less 24/7 hungover student comes with plenty of challenges.

Having a set of particular skills can make your whole university/college experience so much easier, meaning there is more time for fun! Like, how do you stay healthy when living on a diet of pot noodles and beans on toast? And how does one face the challenge of partying most nights of the week and be able to afford to feed and clothe yourself (Plus did anyone mention how expensive books can be?)

We’ve put together a list of our top 5 skills we think you ought to know!

1. Make sure you to learn to Budget!

Let’s be realistic you’re going to be pretty skint during your university years some of the time (or more than likely all the time!) However, learning how to create a budget and stay in control of your pennies means you can avoid being permanently penniless.

Look at your income and your outgoings (we mean the essential outgoings such as shelter, food, travel etc.) and work out how much you will have left to spend on nights out etc, divide it by the weeks you have left until your next income and make it your weekly allowance. It’s a great skill to learn and you won’t be left stuck in the mud by mid-month! There are plenty of great apps to help you budget, just remember to be realistic. There’s also no shame in treating yourself once in a while!

2. Sniff out a good deal!

What is the best thing about being a student? STUDENT DISCOUNTS of course! This will not only help you be able to afford the little extras you need but it is also probably our number one budgeting tip for students. Once your university life is over those discounts are gone for good, so take advantage of it!

We have great discounts all year round for students; check out here for deals from Schuh, Superdrug and much more!

3. Loyalty Cards

Getting yourself on some loyalty schemes can also help you save money. Many stores including Superdrug, HMV, Holland & Barrett and Waterstones all have cards and apps that let you build up points which can be spent in store on a later date. An avid coffee drinker, Café Vitamin and Greggs both have coffee cards available, simply get your card stamped every time you buy a coffee reach a certain number and get your next one completely FREE! Great to keep you going all day!

4. Plan your meals and learn some cooking basics!

We all know how easy it is to pick up the phone, open the just eat app and order yourself a takeaway! It’s simple but can play havoc on your health and cause you to spend a fair wad of cash!

A great tip is to get into the habit of planning your meals weekly, do one big shop weekly and stock up on supplies, keep a few dishes in mind and don’t forget to factor in some hangover supplies! The Aberdeen favourites are Irn Bru and Rowies, Butteries or Rolls (whatever you choose to call them!) They are said to work miracles!

It's not that as difficult as you’d think to eat properly at university. You just have to spend a short amount of time working out the basics and mastering a few really simple meals, and you'll be able to feed yourself and save in the process.

Grab yourself some basic cooking utensils from Debenhams (Basic Range) or Flying Tiger Copenhagen. Both can be cheap as chips!

5. Study Hard!

We know, we know these are the famous last words but never a truer word spoken!

Studying hard doesn’t mean spending every hour of the day studying and spending hours re-reading everything! – work out your time and add certain days or times in a diary specifically to each subject! There’s no point in studying if you don’t have a system in place or valued studying time just turns into wasted hours, here are a few of our basic studying rules that can help;

• Keep your notes up to date (re-write or type out notes if necessary)• Don’t forget the highlighter and sticky notes (these can make certain phrases stand out making them far more memorable)• Use a book for each subject – you can never have too many notebooks and it’s best not to get them mixed up.• Set up study groups – studying is much more fun with friends (plus it’s an excuse for pizza and to go out after some hard work)

The Works and Flying Tiger Copenhagen have a fabulous budget range of supplies to help you kick start your Uni life!

Don’t forget on Thursday 28th September our Student Takeover is back! Between 12pm and 8pm students will get access to a range of exclusive discounts, entertainment, freebies and much more. For more information or to pre-register for your chance to win £50 to spend on the day head here >> www.trinityaberdeen.co.uk/even...

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